Four Chinese nationals accused by authorities in the Philippines of espionage led Chinese Communist Party-affiliated groups that donated cash to a Philippine city and vehicles to two police forces, according to photos, videos, and online posts.
Wang Yongyi, Wu Junren, Cai Shaohuang, and Chen Haitao were among five Chinese men detained by Philippine investigators in late January for allegedly gathering images and maps of Philippine naval forces near the South China Sea.
Espionage Charges Slapped
The five men had flown drones to spy on the Philippines’ navy, said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), adding that it had found photos and maps of sensitive sites and vessels on their phones.
A senior NBI official told Reuters that the men had been charged with espionage, which carries a prison term of up to 20 years.
Reuters could not identify a lawyer for the men or establish how they intend to plead. They have not spoken publicly about their arrests and questions directed to them via the Chinese embassy in Manila went unanswered.
The four men were leaders of civic groups overseen by the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) foreign influence network, according to Reuters’ review of articles and multimedia posted by the two groups and in Philippine media.
Beijing Denies Link
China’s foreign ministry, in a statement to Reuters, said China required its citizens to abide by local laws and that the civic groups “spontaneously formed and self-managed by the relevant Chinese citizens … have no affiliation with the Chinese government”.
Wang, Wu and Cai made donations to the city of Tarlac and to the police forces via the Chinese-backed groups in 2022 and continued to host officials at events through 2024. Reuters could not establish the reason for the donations.
Tarlac is home to major military bases, including one used by the Philippines and the United States for live-fire exercises during annual military drills. Photos of bases in the area were not among the sites that NBI said were found on the men’s devices.
All five detained men also met China’s military attaché in Manila, Senior Col. Li Jianzhong, at least once in the weeks before their arrest, Reuters found.
Images and videos additionally show Wang, Wu, and Cai meeting the attaché at least three times in 2024, including in May, when he opened the civic groups’ office in Manila.
Details of the donations made by the men, their interaction with Li, and their association with the CCP have not previously been reported.
The ties revealed by Reuters go beyond public statements made by Philippines investigators, who have said the men disguised themselves as “harmless” members of a legitimate organization.
‘Hot-Pursuit’ Operation
The NBI said the men were apprehended after “hot-pursuit” operations. It did not specify who the men were suspected of working for. But Beijing has denied the accusations of espionage, which state media has branded the “smear tactics” of a nation whose Chinese policy “is slipping into an impulsive and irrational abyss.”
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its Manila embassy did not respond to requests for comment.
The office of the mayor of Manila, whose police force took motorbikes from the men, said in response to Reuters’ questions that the “deed of donation and motorcycles… were found to be in order”.
The mayor of Tarlac city and the two police forces did not respond to requests for comment.
Lack Of Foreign Interference Law
The Philippines does not have a specific foreign interference law, but is currently drafting one amid rising tensions with China. Government agencies are permitted to receive donations but contributions from foreign authorities must be approved by the president, according to guidelines.
The practice of donations has been criticized by academics and the Transparency International non-profit, which has noted, that Philippine leaders have sometimes used such donations to solicit bribes. Reuters uncovered no evidence of bribe payments in this case.
An academic paper co-written by retired Philippine Rear Adm. Rommel Jude Ong and posted this month on the Social Science Research Network platform said that Chinese businesses and diaspora networks served as “critical intermediaries” in promoting Beijing’s agenda and Philippine local governments were vulnerable to influence via “economic incentives and donations.”
China has said countries including Australia that have tried to fend off foreign interference by passing new laws are damaging bilateral relations.
(With inputs from Reuters)
